Jacks Mountain Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
A Burr truss covered bridge spanning Tom's Creek in Hamiltonban Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, near Iron Springs. Built in 1890 by Joseph Smith, it measures 75 feet in length and 14 feet 6 inches in width, with a clearance of 13 feet 11 inches. Its construction includes stone abutments, horizontal narrow siding, and wide plank flooring laid lengthwise. The gable roof is covered in tin, and the trusses rise nearly to eave level. The bridge is owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and is described as being in excellent condition. It is one of several covered bridges in Adams County considered together in a group nomination, which reviewers found eligible for the register. The documentation also addressed the effect of strengthening repairs on the bridge's integrity, and the bridge's wooden structure remains the core of its historic value.
Significance in brief: The nomination treats the bridge as one of the covered bridges of Adams County listed as part of a multiple-property group. Its features include horizontal narrow siding, stone abutments, wide longitudinally laid plank flooring, a tin-covered gable roof, and burr trusses that reach almost to eave level. The form states the bridge appears to be in excellent condition.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80003397, listed August 25, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Fairfield on LR 01053, Hamiltonban Township, Iron Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | August 25, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003397 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Smith (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form states the bridge appears to be in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.76716, -77.38670 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80003397.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6116844
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.